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T. R. R. ASHTON & E. J. KELLY; MAGAZINE FOR FIREARJMIS.

N0. 537,959. Patented Apr. 23, 1895.

' UNITED STATES- PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS R. ASHTON, OF DENILIQUIN, NEW SOUTH WALES, AND EDWARD J. KELLY, OF TERANG, VICTORIA. v

MAtB AEINE F'OR FIREARMS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent 1%. 537,959, dated April 23, 1895.

A Applicationfiled August 21, 1 94- Serial No. m 111 11 1 To all whom it may concern Be it known that we, 'lHoMAs ROBERT RA- NEY ASHTON, a resident of Deniliquin, in the Colony of New South Wales, and EDWARD JOHN KELLY, a resident of Terang, in the Colony'of Victoria, mechanical engineers, subjccts of the Queen of Great Britain and Ireland, have invented Improvements in Magazines for Firearms, of which the following is a specification.

Our invention relates to improved magazines for tire-arms.

Our magazines possess the advantage of simplicity of construction. They may be used permanently attached to the gun and be refilled as required, or in a modified form, in

which the construction: enables :them' to beturned out very cheaply (which is ot,-c'ourse a necessity in such a case) they may be thrown off the arm when emptied, and be replaced with a new and full magazine with great rapidity and ease. In the latter operation, the

weapon need not be taken down from thev shoulder or the general aim be turbed.

Referring now to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate our invention-Figure 1 shows a perspective view of one form of our magazine with the lid partly otf; and Fig. 2 shows a plan view of the same, the body being shown in horizontal section. Fig. 3 shows the rear part in perspective of a modified form of our magazine, provided with a door which is shown partly open. said door as seen from its inner side. Fig. 5

greatly disshows a horizontal section through the modified magazine, when the door is ofi. Figs. 6 and-7-show the same as Fig. 5 but with the door closed, and partly opened respectively. Fig. 8 shows in perspective the modified magazine inserted'in its place on a gum-with the door open, as it appears after refilling with cartridges.

In all the figures the same letters of reference denote like parts.

The magazine itself isalightsheetsteel box of two widths as shown at A and B for thick and thin ends of cartridges respectively so that it is impossible to insert cartridges therein wrong end first. It is preferably U -shaped, in one piece, with outwardly projecting ribs Fig. 4 shows the aforeindicated at C 0 extending partly down the sides to give rigidity to the metal. 'lhcse ribs can be made by swaging with suitable dies. Along the lower edge at each side, but not at back orl'ront, there is a horizontal lip as at E. The lips serve two purposes, viz., to keep the lidor bottom D in place when required, and when the lid D is being removed they are adapted to entercorresponding grooves in the chamber 0 above and at one side of the arm and thereby hold the magazine in place upon the arm. Vide Fig. 8.

The bottom shown at' l) slides upon the flanges or lips Eand holds the cartridges in place and as the magazine is put in place upon the arm this bottom is displaced.

The chamber 0 is open at the front and above,itstwo sides and back forming vertical supports of the magazine, and fitting closely to the sides and back of the part A. The ribs 0 on the part A should not .therelore extend lower than the height reached by the sides of chamber 0 but on the part B they mayextend almost to the base.

To keep the lid D on when a full magazine A B is off the arm, any simple catch may be employed such as raised rounded surfaces G G on the lips E E at the outer end of part B- over which corresponding raised rounded surfaces F F fit with spring pressure when the lid D is closed with just sufiicient tightness to prevent the lid coming oif except when deliberately pushed off with moderate force.

The square shoulders S S are important and novel. Their object is to enable the magazine to befirmlyheld upon the arm,bymeans magazine moving forward no matter in what direction the firearm may be pointed.

T T are slots or apertures which being ar ranged on the back and side of the magazine show at a glance how many cartridges are left in the magazine.

The dotted line Y shows an alternative form for the top of the magazine to save space. The magazine may-be vertical or may rake forward which latter form we show.

Referring now to Figs. 3 and 8 these show a, modified magazine in all respects similar to that already described except that it has at the rear a door I hinged at a corner L, so that it can be opened as shown in Figs. 3, 7 and 8 and closed as in Fig. 6. The lower rear part of magazine A is bent over and secured as at H firmly binding the sides together, and

one sideof, the rear edge of magazine A is I made to project outward sn fiiciently far to enable it to be easily caught by the finger when the door is to be thrown open. or closed. A catch is arranged so as to keep the door I closed such as a projection M on magazine A over which a tongue K having a corresponding recess passes with spring pressure with sufficient hold to prevent accidental displacement.

As will be readily understood the manner of using our magazines is very convenient and simple. Assuming that a magazine as in Fig. 8 (but empty) is to be removed and replaced by another, the latter is taken in one hand, and the hand is raised to the rear of the empty magazine, and the latter is pushed forward with a firm pressure, .which causes it to slide off and tall-t0 the ground. If anycath in front of shoulders S S has to be removed as for example by turning the rear of a' bolt as R that action is done prior to pushing out of the magazine. The hand is now drawn backward in such manner, that the rear of the lips E It of the new and full magazine shall enter the slots in O and thus the new magazine is drawn back, the lid being pushed off automatistantially as cally by the arm and falling to the ground. At this stage whatever magazine locking device the fire-arm has falls into or is brought into place in front of the shoulders S S and the hand of the rifieman is withdrawn having completed its work, which is essentially a mere pushing motion.

Obvious-modifications may be made in ourmagazines; or some features ot'them as described may be dispensed with, while retaining some of the essential features of curinvention. y

Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said invention and. f in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we claim is 1. A magazine for fire arms consisting of a body A, B, lips turned outwardly from the bottom thereof and abottom D having flanged edgesembracing the lips of the body and holding means for said bottom, substantially as described.

2. A magazine for fire arms consisting of a 65 body portion, a removable bottom and sight 4 apertures in the end of the body portion, subdescribed. I

3. A magazine for fire anms consisting of a body portion, a removable bottom and a. hinged door at one end, saiddoor being flanged and engaging flanges in the body portion,substantially as described.

In witness whereof we have hereunto set our hands in the presence of two subscribing 7 5 witnesses. THOMAS R. R. ASHTON.

EDWARD J. KELLY. Witnesses:

Guonon G. TURRI,

E. F. NIoHoLns.

forward and a drawingback. 

